“No one was injured in the incident.,” police said. (Representational)

US Vice President JD Vance arrived in New Delhi this morning for his four-day visit to India. The US Vice President is in India with his wife, Usha Vance, the Indian-American Second Lady. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw welcomed the US Vice President at the Palam airport, where Mr Vance was given a tri-services guard of honour.

The US Vice President’s plane landed at the Palam Technical Area in New Delhi. He will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day, with talks likely to focus on an early finalisation of the proposed bilateral trade pact and ways to bolster India-US ties. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar are expected to join the discussions.

#WATCH | Delhi: Vice President of the United States, JD Vance receives ceremonial Guard of Honour as he arrives at Palam airport for his first official visit to India.

He will meet PM Modi later today. pic.twitter.com/Xzx8P85lvz

— ANI (@ANI) April 21, 2025

This is Mr Vance’s first visit to India after taking over as the Vice President of the United States. He is accompanied by a five-member delegation, including representatives from the Pentagon and the State Department.

Live Updates: JD Vance Arrives In Delhi, To Meet PM Modi Today In 1st India Visit

The Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement, “The visit will provide an opportunity for both sides to review the progress in bilateral relations and the implementation of the outcomes of the India-US Joint Statement issued on February 13 during the visit of the Prime Minister to the US. The two sides will also exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest.”

After he meets with Prime Minister Modi, Mr Vance and his family will visit Jaipur and Agra. On Tuesday, the US Vice-President will visit the iconic Amer Palace. Later that day, he will deliver a keynote address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre. The summit will see participation from top Indian and American officials, with Mr Vance expected to talk about bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

On Wednesday, the US Vice President will travel to Agra for a visit to the Taj Mahal. After spending nearly three hours at the monument, he will return to Jaipur the same afternoon and visit the Jaipur City Palace.

He is scheduled to meet the Rajasthan Chief Minister, Bhajan Lal Sharma, and Governor Haribhau Bagade on April 22. He will leave for Washington on Thursday.

A high-level delegation on Sunday visited the border town of Belonia and conducted an on the spot study, and possible effects on the Indian side due to an embankment being constructed by the Bangladesh government along the Muhuri River, which divides the two countries.

The delegation led by Tripura Public Works Department Secretary Kiran Gitte, after visiting the India-Bangladesh bordering areas, met villagers and held meetings with elected representatives, including the chairman of the Belonia Municipal Council.

Later, Mr Gitte said that to protect the South Tripura district headquarter Belonia, adjoining villages and habitations, embankments are being constructed and other measures have been taken up and the ongoing works would be intensified.

“By June this year, all the repairing and related works would be completed. Work would be done round-the-clock. As the volume of work is very big in South Tripura district, five additional engineers would be posted in the district,” Mr Gitte said.

During catastrophic floods and landslides in August 2024, many river embankments along the India-Bangladesh border and other infrastructure were damaged. The government identified 43 such locations in different districts, including South Tripura district, the IAS officer said.

He said the works to repair infrastructure will be started soon. Senior Border Security Force (BSF) officers were also present.

The Bangladesh government has been constructing another big embankment along Southern Tripura, opposite Belonia town, triggering tension among Indian residents as the embankment may endanger border villages during monsoon floods.

Residents under Belonia Municipal Council areas and those living in Ballamukh, Ishan Chandranagar and adjoining villages in South Tripura district have expressed serious concerns over the construction of the giant embankment by Bangladesh.

Earlier, similar embankments were built by the Bangladesh government along northern Tripura’s Unakoti district. That may also put the district town of Kailashahar and border villages during monsoon floods in danger.